Apparatus for finishing fabrics



March 4, 1941. c. T. GRAHAM K APARATUS FOR FINISHING FABRICS I Filed Oct. 2l, 1938 INVENTOR mgv Patented Mer. 4, 1941 J 2,233,865

UNITED STATES PATENT oFFlcE 2,233,865 APPARATUS FOR FINISHING FABRICS Clarence T. Graham, North Attleboro, Mass., as-

signor, by mesne assignments, to Defiance Manufacturing Company, Barrowsville, Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts Application October 21, 1938, vSerial No. 236,148

2 Claims. (Cl.-91-51) This invention relates to apparatus for finishover the platen, orifices II being provided for ing fabric. It is particularly applicable to fabric that purpose. that consists of a ground and raised pattern or Associated with this mechanism is a rotatable figure forming portions that are engaged with brush I2, which consists of a cylinder having 5 the ground and extend from one side, the obverse barbs I3 extending from its peripheral face, 5 side, thereof. which are adapted to engage the raised pattern or As an example of such a fabric there is at the figure forming portions of the fabric and operate present time on the market a marquisette which above a platen I4, which I have shown as ytrianconsists of a ground and with which rovings or guiar in form, and over the apex of which the l yarn are engaged and extend from the obverse fabric passes. These barbs I3 may be of any l0 side of the ground to form a dotted fabric which suitable material, but I have found a curved steel has become known in the trade as fluffy dot wire to be admirably adapted for the purpose. fabric. In this type of `fabric the fluffy dots `This brush I2 may be rotated at a variable speed retain a fluffy appearance while the ground is by a. suitable mechanism as, for instance, a l5 finished as for instance by starching. variable speed motor I5. l5

The fabric is completely woven with the ground If desired, a rotatable Cleaner I6 may be aSSO- and the dots in the weaving mills and is then flnciated with the brush I2, which cleaner is of ished in the weaving mills so that the problem substantially the same construction as the brush, involved is application of the finishing material to remove any material that accumulates in the to the ground of the fabric without applying brush during its operation. 'I'his cleaner I6 may 20 the nishing material or permitting the finishing be driven from the motor I5.

material to reach the raised pattern or figure Also associated with this mechanism is a staforming portions or fluff dots and in flufling tionary brush I1, the barbs of which `extend these dots. diagonally in a direction opposite to the direction In the drawing: of travel of the fabric, so as to engage the pat- 25 Figure 1 is a more or less diagrammatic view tern or figure forming portions and raising them of an apparatus; and from the ground and giving them a fiufled-up Figure 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of attitude. the applicator for the finishing material; and The cylinder I extends substantially the entire Figure 3 is a fragmentary view of the applicator width of the fabric as does also the brush I2, the 30 roller for the liquid finishing material. manifold 9, the platen 1 and the platen I4.

Describing now the apparatus, it includes a This roller I is provided with grooves that exroller I, which is rotatably mounted within a tend in a longitudinal direction in relation to container 2 for rotation within a supply of liquid the cylinder and on its peripheral face, which finishing material and which may be driven by insures the carrying 0f a sufcient amount 0f 35 suitable means such as a motor 3 through a power the liquid rlishing material in the Supply 0f the transmission element 4. If it is desired this container 2 to the reverse side of the fabric. motor may be a variable speed motor so that the In the drawing I have illustrated One form 0f speed 0f rotation 0f the roller may be varied this Cylinder Which includes appllCatOl Surfaces 4o or the speed of rotation of the rouer may be I8 `which are separated by longitudinal grooves to varied the use of other Well known driving I9, the Surfaces and the grooves extending means. Spaced from the-roller I is a drying Ststmtany frotlg ndl) i@urti tof thelcyllndrhi a eas oanex ns cen oappy e q chamber 5 through which a tenter frame s finishing material to that portion of the fabric passes, and in which itis operated in the usual to which it is desired to apply it' 45 manner. This chamber 5 may be heated by any The cove I9 Xt d f b1 h t uitable means such as hot air. segr s e en pre era' y somew a' s tangentially of the roller I, rather than radially Within the drying chamber 5 a platen 'I is located, over which the fabric which is indicated emtlgsedglsl a?? a ldlgccilg 5u m the drawmg by the referme? umlfer 8 therein removable fillers 20, the effect of this 50 passes-y Above this platen a mamfold 9 1S 10- variation being that the quantity or liquid nn- Cated, and 1'S COImeCted through a Pipe l0 t0 a ishing material carried by the grooves may be source 0f fluid under pressure. such. for instance, varied as desired with the result that the amount as steam. 'I'he steam is adapted to be projected of liquid finishing material applied to the fabric downwardly against the fabric 8 as it travels mav be controlled. 55

In operation the fabricywith the pattern or figure forming portions extending from the obverse side thereof, is moved longitudinally from a supply ZIE by the tenter frame 6 or by any other means. As the fabric passes over the roller I with the reverse side of the fabric in contact with the peripheral face of the roller, the roller is rotated either in the direction indicated on the drawing by the arrow, or, if desired, in the opposite direction. When rotated ,in the direction indicated by the arrow as the grooves I9 are submerged in the liquid finishing material, the material fills the grooves and coats the applicator surfaces I8. As the grooves move upwardly above the surface of the liquid finishing material, the liquid is spilled out of the grooves over the applicator surfaces I8, so that there is a continuous supply of the liquid finishing material to the applicator surfaces I8, and the amount of this supply may be governed by any suitable means, such as, for instance, the fillers 20.

As the fabric continues to move beyond the applicator roller I, it enters the drying zone 5, where the finishing material is dried. The relationship between the speed of travel of the fabric, the amount of liquid finishing material applied to a unit area of the fabric, and the time intervening between the application of the finishing material to the fabric and its entrance into the drying zone is such that the penetration of the liquid finishing material into the fabric will be confined to the ground of the fabric or to the -ground and whatever portion of the raised pattern or figure forming portions is desired. The result of this of course is that the ground fabric is given the desired hand while the original condition of the raised pattern or figure forming portions is not substantially changed.

As the fabric passes through the drying zone the pa'ttern or figure forming portions are subjected to a blast of fluid under pressure which fiuffs the pattern or figure forming portions and gives them a fiuffy or fuzzy appearance.

'I'his fiuffing of the pattern or figure forming portions may be enhanced by the engagement of a brush such as I'I with said portions, and also by the operation of the rotary brush I2, the barbs of which engage the raised pattern or figure produce a fabric that has forming portions, separating them and flufllng them up.

These brushes I1 and I2 may operate upon the fabric either before or after the application of the finishing material to the fabric. Both may operate before the application of the nishing material, or both may operate after the application of the finishing material. n the other hand, either may operate before the application of the finishing material, while the other operates after the application of the finishing material. Either or both of these brushes may operate in conjunction with the fluid pressure fiufer II or the fluid pressure fluffer may be dispensed with.

What I claim is:

1. In a machine for finishing fabric which includes a ground and raised pattern or figure forming portions' on the obverse side thereof, to produce a fabric that has a finished ground and unfinished pattern or figure forming portions, an applicator roller having grooves extending generally longitudinally in the face thereof and adapted to carry liquid finishing material, means for rotating said roller, means for drawing the fabric over said roller with the reverse side of the fabric in position to receive the liquid finishing material from said grooves, means carried by the roller for reducing the size of the grooves, and means for supplying the grooves with liquid finishing material.

2, In a machine for finishing fabric which includes a ground and raised pattern or figure forming portions on the obverse side thereof, to a finished ground and unfinished pattern or figure forming portions,

Aan applicator roller having grooves extending generally longitudinally in the face thereof and adapted to carry liquid finishing material, means for rotating said roller, means for drawing the fabric over said roller with the reverse side of the fabric in position to receive the liquid finishing material from said grooves, means for varying the capacityof the grooves, said means for varying the capacity of the grooves including fillers removably mounted 4in said grooves, and means for supplying the material.

CLARENCE T. GRAHAM.

grooves with liquid finishing 

